Football’s new head coach goes to work

By Zoe Del Rosario LOGOS SPORTSWRITER

Football’s offseason started a month and a half ago, but the Cardinals already have a new face under a not-sonew coach calling the shots at the Nest. This past December, former head coach G.J. Kinne announced he was leaving the University of the Incarnate Word to lead the Texas State University Bobcats while the Cardinals were still playing in the FCS playoffs.

A few days after Kinne’s announcement, UIW Athletic Director Richard Duran promoted Clint Killough from his roles as associate head coach, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator to succeed Kinne just before the team left to play North Dakota State in the playoff semifinals.

“I was kinda locked in on it [the North Dakota game],” said Killough. “In terms of knowing if it was coming or not, I’ve always wanted to do this. It’s something that’s been on my heart and it just kinda became reality.”

After the promotion became official, Killough’s colleagues and players shared messages in support of his new role.

“He has a great offensive mind and is one of the most competitive people I’ve been around,” said former UIW head coach Eric Morris, who preceded Kinne, in a statement to the university. “I know he will elevate UIW to new heights and bring the best out of those young men.”

“Best developer of talent and leader of men I’ve ever been around,” tweeted wide receiver Taylor Grimes, the UIW career record-holder for touchdowns and receptions. “Forever grateful for my time with Killough. 3 Peat coming!!”

Killough is no stranger to UIW’s football program, as his ties to UIW extend back to his playing days. He was a wide receiver for the Cardinals for three seasons from 2013 until graduating in 2015.

In 2018, Killough became the quality control coach for the inside receivers. From there he started climbing up the ranks, becoming associate head coach, wide receivers coach, and recruiting coordinator in January 2022.

“It’s tremendous, I mean, this place has done a lot for me both on and off the field,” Killough said. “So, to have the opportunity to give back to student-athletes who were in the same shoes as me, same field as me, same facilities as me is pretty special.”

Since taking over as head coach, Killough has been actively recruiting for next season. As of Feb. 1, the team has brought in 31 new players -- 17 transfer students and 14 high school signees.

Two standouts from this recruiting class include Zach Calzada, a former Auburn and Texas A&M quarterback who beat Alabama as an Aggie, and and former East Carolina University quarterback Ryan Stubblefield.

Besides the newer quarterbacks’ experience at the highest level, Killough believes the value of his new players goes beyond their individual abilities.

“I think they’re guys that will fit at UIW,” Killough said. “They love football. I think they have the right responses when they’re told no, and they produce productive energy. I think they make people around them better.”

Killough said he is focused on continuing the success the team accomplished the last two seasons -- winning the Southland Conference back-to-back and making it to the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs in 2022 –a deeper run than the year before.

“We’ve kinda reached the pinnacle of FCS college football,” Killough said. “There’s one more step that we gotta go to, and I want to take this program to a national championship. And I want to continue building on the successes that we already have.”